Key Toyota Safety News

March 9, 2010 - The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announces that the 2010 Lexus HS250 and 2010 4Runner earn GOOD ratings for frontal crash protection

March 1, 2010 - The 2010 Scion xB & 2010 Corolla earn the TOP SAFETY PICK award. To qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of GOOD in the Institute's front, side, rollover and rear impact test and be equipped with electronic stability control. These two models are the first Toyota models to earn TOP SAFETY PICK since the institute tightened the criteria to win by adding the new rollover test for 2010. To earn a good rollover rating, a roof has to support the equivalent of 4 times the vehicles weight compared with the current standard of 1.5. In the Institute's test, the xB's roof withstood a force equal to 6.8 times the car's weight. the Corolla's roof supported 5.1 times the cars weight.

February 23, 2010 - The 2011 Sienna earns GOOD ratings for both front and side impact crash protection.

January 29, 2010 - IIHS announces, Toyota modified the 2010 Tundra's frontal airbags and safety belts and added knee airbags for the driver and front passenger to retain the GOOD rating it earned for frontal protection for 2007-09 models. This large pickup had previously earned GOOD ratings for side and rear protection, too.

February 10, 2010 - Intellichoice announced the winners of its annual "Best Overall Value of the Year" awards for 2010. These awards identify best-in-class vehicles that deliver outstanding value and lower than expected cost over time. Intellichoice.com identified winners in 31 vehicles classes, with nine overall category winners. Toyota took top honors in 5 of the eight overall categories and 11 of the 31 vehicle classes. Here's how they describe Toyota's performance:

Recalls hurt Toyota image, but not Toyota value. Toyota and Lexus badges took five of the eight overall rankings for cars and trucks, and 11 of 31 total vehicle segments, once again giving Toyota the highest number of winners. "In light of the current recalls we re-evaluated the data factoring in a potential drop in desirability, and 16 Toyota vehicles were still value leaders in their class, " said Charlie Vogelheim (Executive Editor of Intellichoice.com). "Specifically, we analyzed the long term impact on resale values and ownership costs of vehicles that had been subject to well publicized recalls in the past. And what we found is that while the vehicles take a short term hit, over a typical ownership period the changes are barely measurable, and fall within the range of fluctuations one typically sees in retained value over time. Also, given Toyota's history of strong long-term resale values, we expect these cars continue to recapture competitive to above average retained value at resale time. Toyota has built up a significant level of goodwill among the consumer over the past 20 years. Given that Toyota and Lexus vehicles excel in every facet of cost of ownership, they managed to lead the pack again this year, despite the issues created the recalls."